PORTADOWN’S Colin Turkington believes that his supporters have “a lot to look forward to” ahead of the new Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) getting underway at the end of April.
Turkington spent the majority of last season chasing his tail in the UK’s premier tin top series as his rear-wheel-drive BMW 330e saloon struggled to match the pace of the front-wheel-drive cars.
He finished the campaign a distant fourth in the overall standings on 312 points as NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton drew level with him – and Andy Rouse – on four drivers’ titles.
It was not an entire failure, however, as the 41-year-old’s 19th crack at the BTCC yielded victories at Brands Hatch Indy, Oulton Park and Croft.
His fourth came at Silverstone National – a result that was particularly significant as it took BMW’s success count in the track-based competition to 150.
However, unlike Sutton and runner-up Tom Ingram, persistent set-up issues with his German car meant that he was unable to supplement these results with a consistent run of top-three finishes.
Although a deal has yet to be officially made public by Turkington for 2024, it is anticipated the father-of-two will remain with Dick Bennett’s West Surrey Racing team for a sixteenth campaign.
“As yet I have nothing announced but it can be taken for granted that Dick is burning the midnight oil – he never stops,” said Turkington.
“The team has been working really hard in the background over the winter months to try and catch up; Dick is someone who has always had a team and a car that has challenged at the front – something that we were not in a position to do last season.
“I know he is keen to get onto the top step and so is BMW, so there has been a big push to catch up and I think we have a lot to look forward to. I am confident I go into 2024 in a stronger position.”
For the upcoming 30-round season, two significant changes are being introduced, the first being the decision to double the total power drivers can call upon from the Hybrid Energy Management System (HEMS) equipped to their cars.
Introduced in 2022, HEMS provides an additional 30bhp, but under the new rules announced by the BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow, this is rising to 60bhp.
Broad sweeping revisions to the qualifying format that mimics the IndyCar-style ‘Quick Six’ format is another big talking point, yet despite the unknowns of both, Turkington is remaining sanguine.
“I will have more pace in the package and that should allow me to really challenge,” he said.
“Coming off the back of last season, a lot of work has been done because there was a lot of frustration with where we were at, so nobody wants to be second, third or fourth. Everyone wants to be winning.”
Donington Park is the first port of call for BTCC teams and drivers on the weekend of April 27/28 followed by visits to Brands Hatch Indy, Snetterton, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Croft, Knockhill, Donington Park GP, Silverstone National and Brands Hatch GP respectively.
